Chicago Bears QB Trubisky expects to be back for Rams

Coach Nagy hopeful, but evaluation will be ongoing

By BOB LeGERE

Dec. 5, 2018

He’s back.

Barring any malevolence or anything else unforeseen, QB Mitch Trubisky will return to the driver’s seat of the Bears’ offense for the first time in three weeks, when the 11-1 Rams come into Soldier Field Sunday night.

“I feel strong that he will play, but I’ve got to see more,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said before Wednesday’s practice, when Trubisky was a full participant and threw multiple passes during the period open to the media. “I feel good about it. I hope so. I'm anxious to get him out there and see him throw the ball around in practice with the guys, and then be able to evaluate him off that.”

After starting the first 10 games and helping lead the Bears to a 7-3 record, Trubisky missed the past two games with a shoulder injury suffered at the end of the 25-20 Sunday night victory over the Vikings, Nov. 18. In his absence the Bears split, defeating the Lions and losing to the Giants, with Chase Daniel at quarterback.

Trubisky followed Nagy to the podium and was asked if he expected to play Sunday night. He said: “I do. I’ve just got to show coach (Nagy) that I can play. I’m feeling good about where I’m at. As long as I can show them that I can go out there everyday and make all the throws and be the player that they know I am, I feel confident that I’ll be able to go.”

Being able to make all the throws in the offense is just part of what Trubisky must prove to Nagy. But, because a big part of his game involves using his run skills to provide an added dimension to the offense, the Bears want to take precautions against a re-injury.

“(I have to) just show him that I can make all the throws, and that I’m 100 percent,” Trubisky said. “And (that there are) absolutely no reservations in my game -- when I run, when I throw, when I pull it down, anything. (Show that) I’m just the same guy I was before, and even stronger from the treatment and exercises I’ve been doing. Just go out there and have great week of practice and be as prepared as possible.

“The arm feels really good. It feels great. I’m right where I need to be, and ahead of schedule.”

The pain tolerance is a concern, but so is the chance of re-injury and the long-term health of Trubisky’s throwing shoulder. This is the first injury of his professional career. He became the starter last year in Game Five of his rookie season and had started 22 straight games.

“Any time there’s any pain, I’m just communicating that and being smart about it,” he said. “My pain tolerance has gone up over the years, just being able to know what you can play through and know when you just need to pull back a little bit. So it’s just really not trying to be a superhero. Because you don’t want anything to linger the rest of this year (and for) my career going forward, especially since it’s so crucial, being my throwing shoulder.

"But I know exactly what I can do. I know what I can tolerate and what I can’t, and what I can play through and how to be smart and go out there and do what I need to for my team.”

Trubisky’s 97.7 passer rating is 15th in the NFL, and the Bears won each of his last four starts. He has thrown 18 touchdown passes and just six interceptions in his last seven games.

Trubisky is also third in rushing yards among quarterbacks with 363, trailing only the Panthers’ Cam Newton (450) and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (404). But Trubisky has averaged 7.1 yards per attempt, while the other two are at 4.9.

Against a Rams team that averages 35 points a game, the Bears figure to need Trubisky’s arm and his legs to keep pace.